This question was taken from a small group bible study book by Neil T. Anderson called Freedom in Christ.
1. Think of someone you know who is not yet a Christian. What does the bible say about why he or she does not yet believe (see Romans 10:14-15; 2 Corinthians 4:4)?
A Lot Said....Our Intimacy with God
Our intimacy with God - His highest priority for our lives - determines the impact of our lives.
Nugget of Postive Thinking
A quote from Henry Ford, "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you are right."
A poem:
If you think you are beaten - you are.
If you think you dare not - you don't.
If you think you'll lose - you've lost.
For out of the world we find
That success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in the state of mind.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or the faster man;
But sooner or later the man that wins
Is the one who thinks he can.
-Anonymous
A poem:
If you think you are beaten - you are.
If you think you dare not - you don't.
If you think you'll lose - you've lost.
For out of the world we find
That success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in the state of mind.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or the faster man;
But sooner or later the man that wins
Is the one who thinks he can.
-Anonymous
War for a Soul
In reading Revelation 12 this morning verse 7 & 8 brought back memories of my grandfather's funeral.
I was recently saved and fervently praying for my grandfather who was diagnosed with cancer, a short time period to live and was not saved. A few months later I would fly home to attend his funeral. The day had been sunny and nice until my Uncle finished delivering the eulogy. We stood up, walked out from below the tent - as this was an outdoor funeral - and a tremendous dark cloud rushed in to abduct the sun and all the light and warmth created from it. The sky started turning black and a harsh cold wind started to blow, I knew in my spirit this was hell coming to claim my grandfather's soul. I became deeply troubled at the sight and feel of the drastic change. Directly above my head the ensuing darkness was met by a wall of light and beauty and a battle commenced. I prayed and hoped the light would win and as quickly as the darkness appeared the light drove it away reclaiming a once lost soul from the grips of the enemy. I visioned the hands of death pulling my grandfather down and then God gripping him and pulling him back.
Later that day my uncle would deliver me the message that my grandfather had accepted Christ a week before his passing. This message confirmed what I saw earlier in the sky and then is when I learned what it means to celebrate in death.
I was recently saved and fervently praying for my grandfather who was diagnosed with cancer, a short time period to live and was not saved. A few months later I would fly home to attend his funeral. The day had been sunny and nice until my Uncle finished delivering the eulogy. We stood up, walked out from below the tent - as this was an outdoor funeral - and a tremendous dark cloud rushed in to abduct the sun and all the light and warmth created from it. The sky started turning black and a harsh cold wind started to blow, I knew in my spirit this was hell coming to claim my grandfather's soul. I became deeply troubled at the sight and feel of the drastic change. Directly above my head the ensuing darkness was met by a wall of light and beauty and a battle commenced. I prayed and hoped the light would win and as quickly as the darkness appeared the light drove it away reclaiming a once lost soul from the grips of the enemy. I visioned the hands of death pulling my grandfather down and then God gripping him and pulling him back.
Later that day my uncle would deliver me the message that my grandfather had accepted Christ a week before his passing. This message confirmed what I saw earlier in the sky and then is when I learned what it means to celebrate in death.
Meaningless?
So I hated life, because all the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 2:17-23)
The first two sentences of this paragraph hit me so I decided to put them in the blog. I put the whole paragraph not so much more for me but for you reading.
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grevious to me. The work done under the sun is still grievous to me. I don't hate but I don't understand, well sometimes I hate. I feel there is no direction I can take that I will be happy with, that will satisfy me. I've had these feelings for a while now and they tear away at me. They keep me sitting idle doing nothing but focusing on my toilsome labor and the worthlessness of it all.
I had a dream last night. This dream showed me three paths. One was a path I had been on before and I was looking to go down it again. It was a scary, long, gruelling path that lead to nowhere. I did not want to go on this path however this is the path I was drawn to in my dream. Another path directly behind me was a very steep difficult path. This path was shorter and on the other side there was nothing but sinking mud. I could find quick self-worth on this path by running to the top and showing everyone I could do it. I knew I could make it to the top but that would be the end of it. I could run and repeat this however I would never be able to go any further, only up, down, up and so forth. The praise and recognition I would receive would feel nice but would only deteriate, and was not what I was seeking. The third path was not really a path. It was more like a place. I never walked to this place but just seemed to be there. I was happy, full of joy, holding on and living in innocence. There was a game, practice maybe, of volleyball going on. It seemed juvenile and misguided however the people were doing the best they could. I felt challanged to join but I didn't. I was with most of my family, across the court my Grandpa watched the game being played, cheering with the crowd. I sat content with my niece speaking to me and us laughing together. I didn't want this to ever end.
I believe this last place represents the church, the body. The game being played is life. Here is where I will find myself and my calling. I am an intricate piece of the puzzle in the body. I do not know where that is but I know the body is where I belong.
The first two sentences of this paragraph hit me so I decided to put them in the blog. I put the whole paragraph not so much more for me but for you reading.
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grevious to me. The work done under the sun is still grievous to me. I don't hate but I don't understand, well sometimes I hate. I feel there is no direction I can take that I will be happy with, that will satisfy me. I've had these feelings for a while now and they tear away at me. They keep me sitting idle doing nothing but focusing on my toilsome labor and the worthlessness of it all.
I had a dream last night. This dream showed me three paths. One was a path I had been on before and I was looking to go down it again. It was a scary, long, gruelling path that lead to nowhere. I did not want to go on this path however this is the path I was drawn to in my dream. Another path directly behind me was a very steep difficult path. This path was shorter and on the other side there was nothing but sinking mud. I could find quick self-worth on this path by running to the top and showing everyone I could do it. I knew I could make it to the top but that would be the end of it. I could run and repeat this however I would never be able to go any further, only up, down, up and so forth. The praise and recognition I would receive would feel nice but would only deteriate, and was not what I was seeking. The third path was not really a path. It was more like a place. I never walked to this place but just seemed to be there. I was happy, full of joy, holding on and living in innocence. There was a game, practice maybe, of volleyball going on. It seemed juvenile and misguided however the people were doing the best they could. I felt challanged to join but I didn't. I was with most of my family, across the court my Grandpa watched the game being played, cheering with the crowd. I sat content with my niece speaking to me and us laughing together. I didn't want this to ever end.
I believe this last place represents the church, the body. The game being played is life. Here is where I will find myself and my calling. I am an intricate piece of the puzzle in the body. I do not know where that is but I know the body is where I belong.
Gods Love
Hosea 11:1-4: When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck an bent down to feed them.
Commentary from "Today in the Word" regarding Hosea 11:1-4:
"Israel failed to know and understand God, both before and after Hosea's message and the ensuing Exile. Today's reading portrays Israel's sinfulness as even more disappointing when contrasted with God's tender love. Hosea has given us multiple perspectives of God's love and our relationship to Him, including the image of God as husband, master, and provider.
In Hosea 11, God is depicted as a loving father in an endearing image of teaching His child to walk. God not only gave life to Israel but he also reared them gently and personally. God didn't force His children to survive and grow on their own; He came alongside them and helped them in love.
Hosea reiterated the image of Israel as a beast of burden, this time describing God as a compassionate master who eased the burden and kindly fed them. Despite all the myriad of ways God showed love to His people, they did not recognize Him as the One who loved them. Israel fled from His calls and showed their love to other gods, a reaction to which many parents can sadly relate. The verse describing God's call to His rebellious children was also prophetic of Jesus' return from Egypt after fleeing with Joseph and Mary from Herod's wrath (cf.Matt. 2:15). Israel lefty Egypt only to fall into idolatry immediately, but Jesus returned to save His people from their sin. Both times, Israel failed to recognize the merciful love of the Father."
More....
Commentary from "Today in the Word" regarding Hosea 11:1-4:
"Israel failed to know and understand God, both before and after Hosea's message and the ensuing Exile. Today's reading portrays Israel's sinfulness as even more disappointing when contrasted with God's tender love. Hosea has given us multiple perspectives of God's love and our relationship to Him, including the image of God as husband, master, and provider.
In Hosea 11, God is depicted as a loving father in an endearing image of teaching His child to walk. God not only gave life to Israel but he also reared them gently and personally. God didn't force His children to survive and grow on their own; He came alongside them and helped them in love.
Hosea reiterated the image of Israel as a beast of burden, this time describing God as a compassionate master who eased the burden and kindly fed them. Despite all the myriad of ways God showed love to His people, they did not recognize Him as the One who loved them. Israel fled from His calls and showed their love to other gods, a reaction to which many parents can sadly relate. The verse describing God's call to His rebellious children was also prophetic of Jesus' return from Egypt after fleeing with Joseph and Mary from Herod's wrath (cf.Matt. 2:15). Israel lefty Egypt only to fall into idolatry immediately, but Jesus returned to save His people from their sin. Both times, Israel failed to recognize the merciful love of the Father."
More....
Unplowed Ground
Hosea 10:12: Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, & break up your unnplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes & showers righteousness on you.
Where is your unplowed ground?
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